It is described a femto access point for providing wireless access for a user equipment to a femto cell of a telecommunication network. The femto access point includes an antenna which is adapted to operate with different spatial characteristic antenna patterns, and a transceiver unit, which is coupled to the antenna and which is adapted to activate at least one of the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns. It is further described a method for providing wireless access for a user equipment to a femto cell of a telecommunication network via a femto access point. The method includes activating at least one spatial characteristic antenna pattern of an antenna of a femto access point, wherein the antenna is adapted to operate with different spatial characteristic antenna patterns.
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1. An apparatus, comprising: a femto access point for providing wireless access for a user equipment to a femto cell of a telecommunication network, the femto access point comprising, a controller for controlling an antenna adapted to operate with different spatial characteristic antenna patterns for communication with one or more stationary wireless devices located within a pre-determined access range of the femto access point, wherein the antenna comprises at least two antenna elements and the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns are achievable by varying a phase shift between the antenna elements, and the phase shift is applied both when the femto access point is transmitting and receiving a radio signal wherein the transmission to and reception from the antenna is enhanced for wireless communication in the pre-determined access range of the femto access point, and wherein the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns includes antenna patterns optimized for the transmission and reception of wireless communication between the femto access point and the one or more stationary wireless devices located within the pre-determined access range, and a transceiver unit, coupled to the antenna and adapted to activate at least one of the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns, wherein the transceiver unit comprises a learning system for user equipment including a memory for storing spatial characteristic antenna patterns obtained during a training session, which, after having been successfully trained, is adapted to select an appropriate spatial characteristic antenna pattern from the memory for non-mobile user equipment.
A femto access point provides wireless access to a femto cell for a user device. It has a controller to manage an antenna that can use different spatial antenna patterns to communicate with stationary wireless devices within a specific range. The antenna contains at least two antenna elements, and the spatial patterns are changed by varying the phase shift between these elements during both transmission and reception to enhance communication in the range. The different patterns are optimized for communication between the femto access point and these stationary devices. A transceiver activates these patterns and includes a learning system that stores spatial antenna patterns in memory after a training session to select appropriate patterns for non-mobile user devices.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the antenna elements are patch elements, which are arranged in an antenna array.
The femto access point where the antenna contains at least two antenna elements, and the spatial patterns are changed by varying a phase shift between the antenna elements during both transmission and reception to enhance communication in the range, uses patch elements arranged as an antenna array for the antenna elements.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a flat panel multi beam antenna.
The femto access point where the antenna contains at least two antenna elements, and the spatial patterns are changed by varying a phase shift between the antenna elements during both transmission and reception to enhance communication in the range, utilizes a flat panel multi-beam antenna.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a sensor system for sensing the environment of the femto access point, wherein the sensor system is adapted to provide the transceiver unit information which can be taken into account to activate an appropriate spatial characteristic antenna pattern.
The femto access point, which provides wireless access to a femto cell and has a controller managing an antenna with adjustable spatial patterns for stationary devices within range, includes a sensor system to monitor the environment. The sensor system provides the transceiver with information used to choose the best spatial antenna pattern. The antenna contains at least two antenna elements, and the spatial patterns are changed by varying a phase shift between these elements during both transmission and reception to enhance communication in the range. The different patterns are optimized for communication between the femto access point and these stationary devices.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the femto access point is adapted (a) to receive neighbor information about neighboring access points and (b) to assign appropriate frequency and/or scrambling codes used for communication between the femto access point and the user equipment based on the received neighbor information.
The femto access point, which provides wireless access to a femto cell and has a controller managing an antenna with adjustable spatial patterns for stationary devices within range, can receive information about neighboring access points. It then assigns appropriate frequency and/or scrambling codes for communication between the femto access point and user equipment, based on this neighbor information. The antenna contains at least two antenna elements, and the spatial patterns are changed by varying a phase shift between these elements during both transmission and reception to enhance communication in the range. The different patterns are optimized for communication between the femto access point and these stationary devices.
6. A method, comprising providing wireless access for a user equipment to a femto cell of a telecommunication network via a femto access point, in particular via a femto access point as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising activating at least one spatial characteristic antenna pattern of an antenna of a femto access point, wherein the antenna is adapted to operate with different spatial characteristic antenna patterns for communication with one or more stationary wireless devices located within a pre-determined access range of the femto access point, and wherein the antenna comprises at least two antenna elements and the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns are achievable by varying a phase shift between the antenna elements, and the phase shift is applied both when the femto access point is transmitting and receiving a radio signal wherein the transmission to and reception from the antenna is enhanced for wireless communication in the pre-determined access range of the femto access point, and wherein the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns includes antenna patterns optimized for the transmission and reception of wireless communication between the femto access point and the one or more stationary wireless devices located within the pre-determined access range; and carrying out a learning phase for user equipment, wherein a memory is used for storing spatial characteristic antenna patterns obtained during a training session, and where for activating the at least one spatial characteristic antenna pattern results obtained by the learning phase and stored in the memory are taken into account for non-mobile user equipment.
A method provides wireless access via a femto access point to a femto cell. The femto access point has an antenna that can use different spatial antenna patterns to communicate with stationary wireless devices within a range. The antenna contains at least two antenna elements, and patterns are changed by varying the phase shift between these elements during transmission and reception to improve communication. These patterns are optimized for communication between the femto access point and the stationary devices. A learning phase stores spatial antenna patterns in memory, selecting optimal patterns for non-mobile user devices based on the learning phase results.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein carrying out the learning phase comprises successively selecting the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns for radiating a radio signal by the femto access point, receiving the radio signal for each selected spatial characteristic antenna pattern by a receiving communication device, measuring the level of each received radio signal, and reporting to the femto access point which spatial characteristic antenna pattern allows for the best radio link between the femto access point and the receiving communication device.
The method of providing wireless access via a femto access point and activating spatial antenna patterns optimized for stationary devices, includes a learning phase where the femto access point sequentially selects different spatial antenna patterns to transmit a radio signal. A receiving communication device measures the signal level for each pattern and reports back to the femto access point which pattern provides the best radio link.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein for each successively selected spatial characteristic antenna pattern the radio signal is received and the respective signal strength is measured by at least two macro base stations being assigned to a macro telecommunication network and each of the at least two macro base stations reports about the influence of at least one selected spatial characteristic antenna pattern on the performance of the macro telecommunication network.
The method of providing wireless access via a femto access point and activating spatial antenna patterns optimized for stationary devices, involves a learning phase where different patterns are tested. For each pattern, the radio signal is received by at least two macro base stations in a macro telecommunication network. Each base station measures signal strength and reports the pattern's impact on the macro network's performance.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein each of the at least two macro base stations report to a dedicated functionality which spatial characteristic antenna pattern allows for the best performance of the macro telecommunication network and the dedicated functionality compares the reports of the at least two macro base stations and informs the femto access point about a specific spatial characteristic antenna pattern, which allows for the best performance of the macro telecommunication network.
In the method of testing spatial antenna patterns and receiving reports from macro base stations, each macro base station reports to a central function which spatial pattern improves macro network performance. This function compares the reports and tells the femto access point which pattern works best for the overall macro network. This method builds upon receiving reports from at least two macro base stations in a macro telecommunication network; each base station measures signal strength and reports the pattern's impact on the macro network's performance.
10. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which a computer program is stored that, when being executed by a computer, is configured to provide instruction to control or carry out: activating at least one spatial characteristic antenna pattern of an antenna of a femto access point, wherein the antenna is adapted to operate with different spatial characteristic antenna patterns for communication with one or more stationary wireless devices located within a pre-determined access range of the femto access point, and wherein the antenna comprises at least two antenna elements and the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns are achievable by varying a phase shift between the antenna elements, and the phase shift is applied both when the femto access point is transmitting and receiving a radio signal wherein the transmission to and reception from the antenna is enhanced for wireless communication in the pre-determined access range of the femto access point, and wherein the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns includes antenna patterns optimized for the transmission and reception of wireless communication between the femto access point and the one or more stationary wireless devices located within the pre-determined access range; and carrying out a learning phase for user equipment, wherein a memory is used for storing spatial characteristic antenna patterns obtained during a training session, and where for activating the at least one spatial characteristic antenna pattern results obtained by the learning phase and stored in the memory are taken into account for non-mobile user equipment.
A computer program on a non-transitory medium controls a femto access point by activating spatial antenna patterns. The femto access point provides wireless access to a femto cell and its antenna utilizes different spatial antenna patterns for communicating with stationary wireless devices. Patterns are changed by varying the phase shift between antenna elements, enhancing communication within range. The program conducts a learning phase, storing spatial patterns and selecting the best for non-mobile devices based on the learning results. The antenna contains at least two antenna elements, and the spatial patterns are changed by varying a phase shift between these elements during both transmission and reception to enhance communication in the range.
11. The computer program product as claimed in claim 10 , wherein carrying out the learning phase comprises successively selecting the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns for radiating a radio signal by the femto access point, receiving the radio signal for each selected spatial characteristic antenna pattern by a receiving communication device, measuring the level of each received radio signal, and reporting to the femto access point which spatial characteristic antenna pattern allows for the best radio link between the femto access point and the receiving communication device.
The computer program that controls a femto access point and activates spatial antenna patterns, includes a learning phase which sequentially selects antenna patterns to transmit radio signals. A receiving device measures signal strength for each pattern and reports back to the femto access point. The femto access point then chooses the best pattern for the link. The antenna contains at least two antenna elements, and the spatial patterns are changed by varying a phase shift between these elements during both transmission and reception to enhance communication in the range. The different patterns are optimized for communication between the femto access point and these stationary devices.
12. The computer program product as claimed in claim 11 , wherein for each successively selected spatial characteristic antenna pattern the radio signal is received and the respective signal strength is measured by at least two macro base stations being assigned to a macro telecommunication network and each of the at least two macro base stations reports about the influence of at least one selected spatial characteristic antenna pattern on the performance of the macro telecommunication network.
The computer program that controls a femto access point and activates spatial antenna patterns, executes a learning phase where patterns are tested and signal strength is measured by macro base stations. For each pattern, at least two macro base stations receive the radio signal and report the pattern's impact on the macro network's performance. The antenna contains at least two antenna elements, and the spatial patterns are changed by varying a phase shift between these elements during both transmission and reception to enhance communication in the range. The different patterns are optimized for communication between the femto access point and these stationary devices.
13. The computer program product as claimed in claim 12 , wherein each of the at least two macro base stations report to a dedicated functionality which spatial characteristic antenna pattern allows for the best performance of the macro telecommunication network and the dedicated functionality compares the reports of the at least two macro base stations and informs the femto access point about a specific spatial characteristic antenna pattern, which allows for the best performance of the macro telecommunication network.
The computer program implementing spatial antenna pattern testing and macro base station reporting, ensures that each base station communicates with a central function. This function then determines the best pattern for macro network performance. The central function compares reports and informs the femto access point, building upon the method of testing patterns and receiving strength measurements from at least two macro base stations, measuring signal strength, and reporting impact on network performance.
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October 16, 2009
April 11, 2017
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